Hey, Long Time No See!

Hello friends! Sorry to have waited so long between updates - I guess we must have been busy! This is William Allen posting again. For those of you who don't know, I have moved back down to serve as the Director of the After School Program for this school year. I'm really excited and already being challenged by this awesome opportunity and responsibility! Since there is a lot to catch you up on, I'll talk about school in this post and let you know more about other events in a separate update.

At the moment we have right at 25 kids in the After School Program, ranging from preschool age to 5th grade. Though we may not have every kid show up every day, attendance is very stable compared to last year, which is a huge improvement and blessing. A few weeks ago, most of our kids brought in their first quarter report cards, and they were very good overall. We still have improving to do, but they are doing a great job! Another positive accomplishment has been our reconnection with McIntosh Elementary, where most of our kids go to school. Jennifer and Corey were heavily involved with them last year, and I am excited to see that relationship continue to grow! We have had opportunities to talk with the principle, guidance counselor, and some teachers about our program and their students. We are volunteering weekly to help students with reading and plan on being a part of their upcoming special events. Also, we were able to give ALL the teachers and staff supply packets. (More on that later!!!)

I want to share with you quickly a comment made to us last week by a wonderful lady who works in the office at the school, and I don't mean to boast on what we are doing at the center, but rather on what God is doing in the lives of these kids. Here is part of what she said:

"I thank God for you. I really do. These kids that you're working with, it's making a difference. I can see it. And a lot of the ones you work with really need it. So I just thank God for you."

This lady is also the bus driver that drops our kids off every day, so you know she knows what she's talking about! And her comment was directed towards our older kids in youth group, too. Isn't it nice when God lets you know He's present and active in the world around you?